dmulally

Dragged home a replacement block from my engine rebuilder. Ive seen red motor passageways that look way shitter. Anyway into the garage it goes. First thing was to sort out the timing gear. I have been left stranded by the fibre one shitting the bed a couple of times in the past.

Right then. Mind made up and sticking with 2wd. It should save me 6-12 months and $6-12k. Looks like Ill need an air locker and a big fuck off winch however. Spoke with the engineer again and it's pretty simple and will modify the old V8 brackets.

I have never been happy with this engine. The vacuum leak like dramas I mostly dialed out of it, but this weekend I went to take it for a blat and starting it made it sound like timing was way out. It eventually started but I drove it into the workshop. Going to replace the engine with a known working one. Blardy shitty holden reds I dunno... Radiator has seen better days. Might replace. Might take the mounts out and try and lower it to get to the bellhousing bolts so I dont have to pull the interior back out.

This is what $20 gets you on marketplace.

Any update it is then. So I managed to get the lister firing. Still running a little rough but will be able to fine tune it before winter. I should hope so because it my off grid cabin backup genny. Turned out to be a stiff (fnar fnar) spring that moves the arm that operates the lift/fuel pump. The spring is centre shot below and covered in crud. I just pulled it apart to clean and reassembled and off she went. Needs full choke to start on the telephone dial. Sounds like gunshots without the muffler going into a drum of water. In the video you can see the lift pump lever and how small the movement is. Hence why I didnt spot it prior.

Ok ok settle down. Where my boat building bay is, it is currently full of chev. I need to move that to the bay with the lift but that has another immovable chev on it too. Plus there is a Lister (fuel problems) and an Imp.(No radiator) In the middle of both bays which need to be moved. It's complicated.

Rang them and they knew their onions. I'll rip it out and send it off for inspection. Thanks for the top tip

Hi All I have found a place in the states that can rebuild my steering box. But would prefer to keep my money on shore. Does anybody know a place that would have a crack at a reasonable price/timeframe? Cheers

Still chugging away on this project very slowly as fuel prices and work nonsense have drained my care factor. Managed to get the front brackets off the K10 chassis but there have been complications. Namely that the K10 steering box is rooted and is a rare type, so requires sending off to the states to repair rather than replace off the shelf. The transfer case needs rebuilding. Not a big deal as they have the kits on the shelf but it will be time/money. I haven't made my mind up yet but I'm considering just keeping it 2wd and getting a winch on the front for when I get stuck as well as an LSD or locker (if I'm feeling rich) for the boat ramp. The 14 bolt diff has a whine in it now owing to it being full of water when I rescued it from a 1980's square body so eventually it will have to be considered. Haven't made my mind up yet but if I stay 2wd, I can put the diffs under something else I have in the barn awaiting it's turn. In other news, I have ordered a new cast manifold (the factory ones all crack) and adapter kit in order to move the turbo to the top side. Should make piping a lot easier up that high too. I painted the transfer case so it at least doesn't look like a bag of shit.

Woah woah woah! I'm sure this isn't the first time you've been told this today but calm your tits, Michael. Boat related I'm waiting for the oak I milled to dry out (not too much or I can't steam bend) in order to use for the decking. I thought I'd take this thinking time to get some work done on the chev but my care factor for anything fuel powered is probably at an all time low. Fuel price and all round cost of living bullshittery has me focusing on the garden more. I daydream more about building a bunker than boats these days. I might take the whaler out this weekend so I can relax. I'm looking forward to getting back into that when this ski boat is done with building a removable cabin, rowlocks etc.

Working is for losers and lesbians. Youre certainly not a loser so that only leaves one option left. Boats are a funny thing. You need to work to keep one and that leaves no time to use it.

I do enjoy owners threatening to cut things up for scrap. In other news you should buy this: https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/dinghies-rowboats/wood/listing/5824746696 Looks like it is in my street too. Fun fact: I spent more on epoxy on the whaler than this boat. Good times.

Got the suspension blasted. So much easier to stomach now. I'll have to sell the Imp to be able to pay for the uni joints, brake components, and transfer case rebuild kit. Really happy with how they turned out. I'm sure you'd get sick of it but the blaster has a pretty cool job. In the queue after my junk were parts from an MGTC, Camaro and a Matchless.

Spoke to a cool chap in Queenstown who is also having his life ruined by a K series uterus. He is much further along however. This is his ute below. Normally Im a fan of steelies on all of my vehicles but these jelly beans look pretty fucken rad.

Still waiting on the blaster man to call me off the bench. In the meantime I dragged the transfer case out. Holy shit it weighs a tonne. @cubastreet tell Megumi to bring her lifting skills tomorrow as I need to lug this shit into a trailer. 👌